The Mikhailovsky Theatre, one of Saint Petersburg’s oldest and most cherished cultural landmarks, welcomes audiences into a world of timeless elegance and artistic mastery. Nestled in the heart of the city, this historic stage has witnessed generations of exceptional performers, including artists trained at the same prestigious academies as the dancers of the Mariinsky Theatre. This season, the theatre presents Swan Lake, the quintessential ballet of Tchaikovsky. With its spellbinding choreography, lyrical grace, and the eternal struggle between love and fate, the performance promises to transport viewers into a realm of beauty and emotion, brought to life by the company’s exceptional talent and profound artistry.
Libretto after Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltzer
The production features choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Alexander Gorsky, and Asaf Messerer
Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato’s version of “the Russian stage’s foremost ballet” is more fantasy than fairy tale. “We are moving away from the romance of medieval castles and court rituals,” says the choreographer. “I want to create a more contemporary story, a profoundly emotional and human one. These emotions stem from the music of Tchaikovsky, but the setting will be the twentieth century. The artist Angelina Atlagic has devised fantastically beautiful costumes and an extremely elegant stage design.” Nacho Duato uses fragments of the classic choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa in his production, but the final act will be something completely new. “The final scene may surprise audiences,” the choreographer hints. “I don’t want to give it away — better for everyone to interpret it in their own way. But if I’m asked whether there’s a happy ending, I’ll say this: the way I see it, there is.”